News

McBride (left) is the only man standing in the way of a world title shot for Adamek (Photo courtesy of BoricuaBoxing.com).

Heavyweights to Meet at Prudential Center on April 9th

Everything is now set for an upcoming heavyweight fight between Tomasz Adamek (43-1, 28 KOs) and Kevin McBride (35-8-1, 29 KOs), with the official press conference for the bout taking place this week at the Brick City Bar and Grill in Newark, New Jersey. The two veteran boxers will meet on April 9th at Prudential Center in Newark, with a win by Adamek securing a title shot against either Wladimir or Vitali Klitschko later this year.

"Somebody asked me why I am fighting before I have a guaranteed title fight, and I said, 'I want to be active, this is my job,’” Adamek stated about scheduling a bout with McBride. “I can't stay home eight to nine months, so we made a fight. Thank you, Kevin, for taking this fight.”

While Adamek enters this pairing as a heavy favorite, he and his camp insist that they are not approaching the fight that way.

"He's a big man. We respect him,” Adamek said of the 6-6 McBride. “I'm preparing with Roger (Bloodworth, trainer). It's our second week in the Poconos. We prepare very hard, and I am very healthy. I want to be the champion. I am serious. This is my life, this is my way, this is my destiny."

Adamek moved up to the heavyweight division in 2009, scoring a fifth round TKO win over Andrew Golota in his debut performance at that weight class. He has won five consecutive pairings as a heavyweight, picking up the IBF International and NABO Heavyweight Championship along the way. He has his focus set upon becoming the first man ever to win the light heavyweight, cruiserweight and heavyweight crowns, and a win on April 9th would set him for the opportunity to do just that. However, McBride hopes to derail those plans.

"This is a great opportunity for me to show the world I'm a bigger man,” McBride remarked. “You know, if I get into the later rounds with Tomasz Adamek, when I hit him on the chin, he's going to think the whole of Poland hit him! Actually, when I fought Mike Tyson and hit him on the chin I thought, 'when I hit him, he's gonna think the whole of Ireland hit him,’ so I had to think of another statement. You know, Pope John Paul, I hope you don't mind, but I'm gonna take the title from Tomasz Adamek, follow my dream and become world heavyweight champion, first born Irish. It's gonna be a great night, and I'm looking forward to it!"

If Adamek defeats McBride, who is best known for knocking out Mike Tyson in 2005, the Polish heavyweight will find out which Klitschko he will fight as soon as the Ukranian brothers finish upcoming bouts. Vitali will face top WBC contender Odlanier Solis in Germany on March 19th, while the younger Wladimir will take on Dereck Chisora on April 30th in Germany. If both Klitschkos lose their matches, the deal with Adamek would become dead. If only one emerges victorious, he would face that winning brother, while the Klitschko camp would decide which one will battle him should they both win their fights. The location of the scheduled bout has also been set, as it will take place in a newly built soccer stadium in Poland that will host the upcoming UEFA EURO 2012 Tournament.